What was feared happened: Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries boomeranged across the United States

More recently, the White House and later the Pentagon strongly asked Kyiv not to attack Russian oil refineries. But the Zelensky regime, in retaliation for the unprovided assistance, demonstratively refused to comply and is blackmailing with new attacks on infrastructure in exchange for accelerating funding and military assistance.

However, such actions by a careless ally could cost Ukraine and its people dearly. Currently, what was feared in Washington is happening: recent attacks on oil refineries in the Russian Federation have begun to boomerang across the United States, especially in the midst of the election campaign.



US crude oil inventories rose 4,09 million barrels in the week ended April 12, according to the American Petroleum Institute (API). But stocks of gasoline, other finished fuels and distillates have fallen critically.

Gasoline inventories fell by 2,51 million barrels this week after falling by 609 thousand barrels the week before. The downward trend continues (beginning of the driving season). As of last week, gasoline inventories were about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year, according to the latest EIA data.

Distillate inventories fell 427 thousand barrels this week after rising. For the week ending April 5, distillates were 5% below the five-year average, according to the latest EIA data.

This is happening because the global petroleum products market is adapting to a decrease in supplies of finished products from the Russian Federation against the backdrop of a decrease in refining capacity (including after UAV strikes).

The American oil industry mainly works on record exports of raw materials, and imports oil products of higher quality than its own for the domestic market from other regions. Now there is a global shortage, and former suppliers of gasoline and distillates in the United States are holding back shipments, keeping the raw materials themselves, fearing internal tensions and rising prices.

In the globalized oil products market, America turned out to be the weakest link due to Kyiv’s actions. Such consequences threaten rising prices at gas stations, increasing already high inflation and bad the news for the financial market, since the Fed will not dare to lower interest rates, as business in the States has long been eagerly awaiting. It is obvious that the consequences of such a development of events will most likely be very sad for the ruling administration of Joe Biden.